PA VOTERS DECIDE  Date: September 2024  Subject: Urgent Demand for the Reinstatement of Drop Boxes in Luzerne County Cc: Luzerne County Board of Elections, Luzerne County Solicitor, Luzerne County Council  County Manager Crocamo,  Just weeks before Pennsylvania voters cast their ballots, you made the unilateral decision to eliminate all mail ballot drop boxes for the November 5, 2024, General Election. This decision bypasses the Luzerne County Board of Elections, raises serious concerns about the overreach ofunelected county administrators, and fully disregards the critical importance of voter access. We are writing today to collectively demand that dropboxes be reinstated in Luzerne County  immediately for the following reasons: Drop boxes are proven to be safe and secure:  While you cited concerns about security and thei financial risks associated with drop boxes, this abrupt decision undermines the rights of voters. Drop boxes have been a trusted, secure option in Luzerne County since 2020, serving as a critical resource for those unable to return their ballots through the mail in time for them to be counted. These locations, including Wright Manor, Misericordia University, and county-owned sites, provided essential services without incident in previous elections. These concerns  about security are unfounded and spurious at best.  Drop boxes make voting more accessible:  Removing the county's dropboxes will undoubtedly cause voter confusion and substantially limit voting access for Luzerne County voters. With less than 6 weeks from the General Election, voters are already making their voting plans and should have the option to do sO by using drop boxes just as they have since 2020. To remove drop boxes inl Luzerne County this close to the General Election will only disenfranchise voters who The absence of drop boxes forces voters to hand-deliver their ballots to the election bureau, a move that unnecessarily complicates the process for seniors, working people,  rely on them to cast their ballot.    individuals with disabilities, and those in rural areas. In other words, demographics that make up a large portion of voters in Luzerne County. Iti is also worth noting that Luzerne County is large, and for many voters, the distance tot the election bureau ist too fari to  travel.  Luzerne County has the opportunity to be a consistent leader in how elections are run in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth. To do this, officials must commit to implementing consistent policies and procedures for each and every election designed to minimize voter confusion, maximize voter access, and affirm voter trust. Citing vague security concerns less than 50 days away from the General Election is ay weak excuse to unnecessarily hinder voters and revoke one of our most reliable voting tools. There should be more, not less, help for voters to exercise their freedom to vote, especially in what will undoubtedly be a high turnout election year. Luzerne County voters deserve accessible and dependable ways to return On behalf of the organizations listed below, we urge you to reinstate the availability of drop  their ballot.  boxes in Luzerne County fori the 2024 General Election.  Signatories  In This Together NEPA All Voting is Local Keystone Progress Education Fund Make the Road PA Pennsylvania Policy Center SEIU PA State Council Disability Rights Pennsylvania Common Cause Pennsylvania Conservation Voters of PA Keystone Democracy Red Wine & Blue Asian Americans United Pennsylvania Stands Up  Pennsylvanians Together The League of Women Voters of PA Pennsylvania Voice CAIR- Pennsylvania ACLU-PA POWER Interfaith  Planned Parenthood Association of PA NextGen America Pennsylvania Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism 1Hood Power New Pennsylvania Project New PAI Project Education Fund (c3) Promote The Vote PA MomsRising